DOCSLIB.ORG

Lumbini 2008

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Lumbini 2008 LumbiniLumbiniLumbini J OURNAL O F T HE L UMBINI N EPALESE B UDDHA D HARMA S OCIETY (UK) Volume 11 May 2008 Newly acquired gold plated Buddha Statue for Society's activities Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society (UK) uddha was born more than 2600 years ago at Lumbini in Nepal. His teachings of existence of suffering and Lumbini Bthe way out of the suffering are applicable today as they were Journal of The Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society (UK) applicable then. The middle way he preached is more appropriate now than ever before. Lumbini is the journal of LNBDS (UK) and published annually depending upon funds and written material; and distributed free For centuries Buddhism remained the religion of the East. of charge as Dharma Dana. It is our hope that the journal will Recently, more and more Westerners are learning about it serve as a medium for: and practising Dharma for the spiritual and physical well- being and happiness. As a result of this interest many 1.Communication between the society, the members monasteries and Buddhist organisations have been and other interested groups. established in the West, including in the UK. Most have Asian connections but others are unique to the West e.g. Friends of Western 2.Publication of news and activities about Buddhism in Buddhist Order. the United Kingdom, Nepal and other countries. Nepalese, residing in the UK, wishing to practice dharma for their spiritual development, turned to them as there were 3.Explaining various aspects of Dharma in simple and no such Nepalese organisations. Therefore, a group of easily understood language for all age groups. Nepalese met in February 1997 and founded Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society (UK) to fill this gap. The 4.Discussion on Dharma through a readers column. society is non-political, non-racial, non-profit making voluntary organisation and open to all, both Nepalese and Lumbini is run purely on donation. Therefore, any donations non-Nepalese, whatever their faith and tradition. are welcome and greatly appreciated. Cheques/Postal orders should be made payable to Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Advisers Society (UK) or LNBDS (UK) and forwarded to the society. Bhikkhu Sugandha (Thailand), Lodro Thaye, Bhikkhu Sujankirti, Dr. Ratna Bahadur Shakya Executive Committee Members (UK) Lumbini for you... Bhikkhu Sumana (President), Mr. Amrit Sthapit (Vice-President), Mr. Dinesh Sthapit (Treasurer), Dr Dharma B. Shakya (Secretary), Mr. For the forthcoming issues of Lumbini, we welcome your Ram Babu Thapaliya (Joint Secretary) articles, anecdotes, short stories or news features, which are linked to Nepal and/or Buddhism. Send your contributions Members and comments to:- Mrs. Nani Shova Shakya, Mr. Gyalsang Tamang, Mr. Sukman Lama, Mr. Dinesh Bajracharya, Dr. Swayambhu Tuladhar and Mr. Sujan The Editor, Journal of LNBDS (UK), 11 Mulberry Drive, Shakya Slough Berkshire, SL3 7JU Tel : 01753-549370, e-mail: [email protected] Life Members Mr. Amrit Sthapit, Dr. Dharma Shakya, Dr. Lochan Manandhar, Please include your full name, address and telephone Mrs. Nani Shova Shakya, Mrs Sakuna Lama, Miss Hima Gurung, number. We regret we cannot acknowledge or return Mrs Anita Rai, Mr. Lil Gurung, Mr. Surya Bajra Yonjan, Mr. Redwood items we do not publish. MA, Dr. Bhadra Dhoj Karki, Mr. Shashi Manandhar, Mr. Uttam Nepal, Mr. Dinesh Sthapit, Mr. Rambabu Thapaliya, Mr. Dinesh Bajracharya, Miss Sophia Somerville, Mrs. Vibeke Dahl, Mrs. Asha Sharma Editor: Amrit Sthapit Objectives Editorial Panel: Bhikkhu Sumana, Dr Dharma Shakya, 1. To make Buddhism known to the wider public and to help them Ram Babu Thapaliya, understand the benefits of his profound teachings. Front Cover Design: Mr. Udaya Shakya 2. To have a forum for the meeting of Nepalese residents in the UK LNBDS OfficeOffice: Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society (UK) and others with an interest in Buddha Dharma as a spiritual prac- 11 Mulberry Drive, Slough, tice for discussion, exchange of ideas, constructive dialogue and to Berkshire, SL3 7JU, UK. build Nepalese Buddhist community in the UK etc. Web: www.lumbini.org.uk Tel: 01753-549 370 3. To establish links with similar organisations in the UK, Nepal and [email protected] other countries. Printed by: Jeddo Print, 3 Lefroy Road London, W12 9LF 4. To organise voluntary work to help reduce human suffering in Nepal and other countries, and Articles and opinions expressed in the journal are not necessarily the opinions of the society. 5. To promote and publish religious and cultural heritage of Nepal May 2008 Lumbini 2 Lumbini Journal of The Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society (UK) Contents Volume 11 May 2008 LNBDS Executive Committee and Objectives 2 Editorial Editorial 3 The Significance of Sammavaca in Everyday Life 4 Happy 2552nd Buddha Jayanti and warm wishes from Dr. (Mrs.) B.S.Siriwardena LNBDS! It was 2552 years ago that The Buddha passed away (Mahaparinirvana). ‘One who sees the teaching sees Right Livelihood - Richard Jones 7 me’, said the Buddha. The greatest way to pay our respect and homage to the great teacher is to practice his teachings. WHO IS WHO IN BUDDHISM IN NEPAL 10 This year we are glad to announce that the Society has (Late Dharmaditya Dharmacharya) acquired long needed a beautiful gold plated Buddha statue Grateful to Feel Gratitude 11 (Buddha Rupa) from Nepal (picture on front cover). The Venerable Ahimsako Bhikkhu Buddha statue is seen as a symbol that can be helpful in creating devotion, uplifting the mind and focusing Gyanmala Bhajan Khalah Reaches West 13 attention. Buddha Statues inspire us to develop our inner Sashi Mahaju qualities to achieve happiness, good fortune, and satisfaction in our lives. Up to now for every Buddha day Mindfulness - Anu Sthapit 14 celebration, we had to borrow the statue from Nima and Sakuna Lama. The Society would like to express our Letterr to Editor 17 gratitude for sharing Buddha Rupa and would like to wish them good wishes for this meritorious act. News 19 To be born as human being is a blessing. As a human, we LNBDS Activities 21 can develop our mind to the highest level and reach even the Buddha hood, Enlightenment. Humans are also blessed with speech to communicate our feelings and thoughts. Speech can create suffering to oneself and others if it is used with bad intention. Speech with positive Singing hymns in and around religious temple areas is a intention will bring peace and harmony among us. We common traditional practice in Nepal. Late Bhikkhu are thankful to Dr. Mrs. B. S. Siriwardena for her inspiring Amritananda argued that the hymns should not propagate article on right speech in ‘The significance of Sammavaca a purely devotional attitude, but impart Buddhist wisdom. in everyday life’. So both the hymn books and the hymn groups became known by the generic term ‘Gyanmala’ (Garland of Our life is very short and valuable. We should try to make Wisdom) from 1943 in Nepal. Gyanmala is popular way our life righteous, useful and harmless to ourselves and to of propagating teachings of the Buddha which has reached others every conscious moment. Avoid wrong livelihood UK also. On auspicious occasion of 2552nd Buddha day, such as based on dealing on weapons, drugs and killing. 'UK Gyanmala Bhajan Khalah' has been established which ‘Right Livelihood’ by Richard Jones looks at way of is explained by Sashi Mahaju in ‘Gyanmala Bhajan Khalah livelihood which avoids any way of life which brings harm Reaches West’. to oneself and other. Anu Sthapit writes a brief but succinct article on Human society is based on helping each other. What ever Mindfulness. We have included a brief biography of late the scale of help it may be, we need each other in life. Dharmaditya Dharmacharya who was the first person to From birth to death, our life is dependent on or revive Theravada Buddhism in Nepal. interrelated to other members of the society. When somebody helps us, we say 'thank you'. Appreciation or We hope all our readers will enjoy reading this journal, as to be grateful is noble quality. Venerable Ahimsako much as we have enjoyed presenting it to you. Bhikkhu writes ‘Grateful to feel Gratitude’ for which we are grateful to him. ‘Bhavatu Sabba Mangalam’ 3 Lumbini May 2008 The Significance of Sammavaca in Everyday Life " Dr. (Mrs.) B.S.Siriwardena Sammavaca or Right Speech is one of the eight factors in These eight factors are interdependent, interactive and the Noble Eightfold Path, the Ariya Atthangika Magga, influence, complement and supplement one another with as realised and revealed by the Buddha over 2500 years such coordination that no one factor can do without the ago. Although the term Sammavaca may not be unfamiliar other when in operation. These are not steps to be to most Buddhists, it would be appropriate to give a brief understood and followed in numerical order and one could background in order to see how it interacts with the other adopt one’s own convenient order. What is essential is the factors in the Noble Eightfold Path. practical aspect of living according to the Dhamma applying it to one’s own life. The Buddha met the five ascetics who were to be his first disciples in the Deer Park in Isipatana (Modern Saranath) The other three Noble Truths are “Dukkha”- and preached to them His first discourse the unsatisfactoriness or suffering, “Samudaya”- arising of Dhammacakkappavattana sutta. He began with explaining Dukkha and its causes and “Nirodha”- cessation of to them this fourth truth as the Majjhima Patipada, the Dukkha, while Majjhimapatipada is the fourth truth, is “Middle Way” as the only way to understand and realise the Path to the cessation of Dukkha and achieving Nirodha, the other three Noble truths to achieve Arhanthood and the entire Dhamma revolves round the four Noble Truths finally Nibbana from that day until parinibbana.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Emergence of the Mahajanapadas
    The Emergence of the Mahajanapadas Sanjay Sharma Introduction In the post-Vedic period, the centre of activity shifted from the upper Ganga valley or madhyadesha to middle and lower Ganga valleys known in the contemporary Buddhist texts as majjhimadesha. Painted grey ware pottery gave way to a richer and shinier northern black polished ware which signified new trends in commercial activities and rising levels of prosperity. Imprtant features of the period between c. 600 and 321 BC include, inter-alia, rise of ‘heterodox belief systems’ resulting in an intellectual revolution, expansion of trade and commerce leading to the emergence of urban life mainly in the region of Ganga valley and evolution of vast territorial states called the mahajanapadas from the smaller ones of the later Vedic period which, as we have seen, were known as the janapadas. Increased surplus production resulted in the expansion of trading activities on one hand and an increase in the amount of taxes for the ruler on the other. The latter helped in the evolution of large territorial states and increased commercial activity facilitated the growth of cities and towns along with the evolution of money economy. The ruling and the priestly elites cornered most of the agricultural surplus produced by the vaishyas and the shudras (as labourers). The varna system became more consolidated and perpetual. It was in this background that the two great belief systems, Jainism and Buddhism, emerged. They posed serious challenge to the Brahmanical socio-religious philosophy. These belief systems had a primary aim to liberate the lower classes from the fetters of orthodox Brahmanism.
    [Show full text]
  • Lumbini: the Birthplace of Lord Buddha in Nepal, Completing The
    LUMBINI The birthplace of Lord Buddha in Nepal. Completing the Kenzo Tange Master Plan Prepared by UNESCO with support from UNDP Content Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 About Lumbini ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 History --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 UNESCO World Heritage property ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 Lumbini today ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 Visitors --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 Chronology ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 UN Secretaries-General in Lumbini ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9 Lumbini, the centre of a unique cultural landscape -------------------------------------------------------- 12 Major Buddhist sites in the Greater Lumbini Area ----------------------------------------------------------- 13 Socio-economic data of the Greater
    [Show full text]
  • The Buddhist Way of Life Yasodhara Dhamma School
    The Buddhist Way of Life Buddhist Ethics for Children Published by Yasodhara Dhamma School Sri Lanka Buddhist Monastery, SLBM Inc. Brisbane QLD 4078, Australia Authored by Ven. Nadimale Sudhamma Author - Ven. Nadimale Sudhamma Educationalist – Australia (B.Teach, Graduate Cert. of Applied Linguistics, MEd - Australia) Deputy Principal, Yasodhara Dhamma School Former Primary School Teacher with the Education QLD Blog Site: http://dhamma_stream.blogspot.com.au Printed by – Nethwin Printers “Dalada Sewane Api” Padanama, Gatambe Junction, Kandy Sri Lanka Ph; 081 - 2386908 Publisher – Yasodhara Dhamma School, Sri Lanka Buddhist Monastery Inc. 114, Considine Street, Ellen Grove, Brisbane, QLD 4078. Web: http://www.srilankaramaqld.org 2019 All Rights Reserved Preface The Buddhist way of life was authored by Venerable Nadimale Sudhamma as an introductory textbook for beginners who study Buddhism in Yasodhara Dhamma School. This book aims to inculcate basic Buddhist teaching in young minds and develop their interest in practicing Buddhism in daily life. The lack of Buddhist textbooks written in English language aiming beginners is a hindrance for propagating Buddhism in Australian society and, this book caters to fill the gap. Venerable Sudhamma was a devoted supporter to Sri Lanka Buddhist Monastery even before her ordination as a Buddhist nun. She was the founder of Yasodhara Sinhala School and a key figure behind developing Yasodhara Dhamma School. Now they are leading institutes in propagating Sinhalese Buddhist values among Sri Lankan community in Queensland- Australia. Sadaham Gangula is another Buddhist publication organized with the authorship of Venerable Sudhamma, a collection of Dhamma Talks delivered at the SLBM. While dedicated to achieving her own spiritual goals, Venerable Sudhamma has dedicatedly supported to the progress of Sri Lanka Buddhist monastery in Brisbane and Subodharamaya in Peradeniya-Sri Lanka.
    [Show full text]
  • Rise of the Buddha Gautama's Enlightenment
    Name ________________________ Pd _____ Rise of the Buddha Gautama’s Enlightenment Instructions: Read the following passage and answer the questions below. Siddhartha Gautama Learns a Lesson – From a young age, the Indian prince Siddhartha Gautama lived a decadent, opulent life in the Shakya palace. Early in his life, a prophet testified to his father that Gautama would either become a fierce king and military man or else he would become a spiritual leader. To steer his son towards the monarchy, Gautama’s father forbade him from leaving the luxurious palace. This would prevent him from learning of the world’s suffering and trials. For many years he lived in seclusion until one day, he decided to venture out in a chariot to see the kingdom. He would soon be overcome by four sights he had never beholden before – a very old man, a sick man, a corpse, and an “ascetic,” or a meditating monk. He was so moved by these sights that Gautama decided to renounce his life of riches and become a monk. His goal was to seek enlightenment, or perfect harmony and peace within. He called this ideal state of mind Nirvana. In his new life as a monk, Gautama studied, meditated, and fasted in pursuit of enlightenment, refusing food and water for many days. As he meditated further under a Bodhi tree, Gautama faced down an evil demon named Mara, who tried to overtake him. However, after banishing the spirit, for the first time he reached true Enlightenment. Siddhartha Gautama had now become Gautama Buddha, or the Enlightened One.
    [Show full text]
  • American Buddhists: Enlightenment and Encounter
    CHAPTER FO U R American Buddhists: Enlightenment and Encounter ★ he Buddha’s Birthday is celebrated for weeks on end in Los Angeles. TMore than three hundred Buddhist temples sit in this great city fac- ing the Pacific, and every weekend for most of the month of May the Buddha’s Birthday is observed somewhere, by some group—the Viet- namese at a community college in Orange County, the Japanese at their temples in central Los Angeles, the pan-Buddhist Sangha Council at a Korean temple in downtown L.A. My introduction to the Buddha’s Birthday observance was at Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights, just east of Los Angeles. It is said to be the largest Buddhist temple in the Western hemisphere, built by Chinese Buddhists hailing originally from Taiwan and advocating a progressive Humanistic Buddhism dedicated to the pos- itive transformation of the world. In an upscale Los Angeles suburb with its malls, doughnut shops, and gas stations, I was about to pull over and ask for directions when the road curved up a hill, and suddenly there it was— an opulent red and gold cluster of sloping tile rooftops like a radiant vision from another world, completely dominating the vista. The ornamental gateway read “International Buddhist Progress Society,” the name under which the temple is incorporated, and I gazed up in amazement. This was in 1991, and I had never seen anything like it in America. The entrance took me first into the Bodhisattva Hall of gilded images and rich lacquerwork, where five of the great bodhisattvas of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition receive the prayers of the faithful.
    [Show full text]
  • Lumbini the Birthplace of Lord Buddh World Heritage Property Soc REPORT ‐ 1 February 2013
    Lumbini The Birthplace of Lord Buddh World Heritage property SoC REPORT ‐ 1 February 2013 PROGRESS REPORT ON SOC Lumbini The Birthplace of Lord Buddha World Heritage property 1 FEBRUARY 2014 Government of Nepal Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY Ramshah Path, Kathmandu, Nepal Telephone: +977 1 4250683 Facsimile: +977 1 4262856 E‐mail: [email protected] Lumbini The Birthplace of Lord Buddh World Heritage property SoC REPORT ‐ 1 February 2013 PROGRESS REPORT ON SOC Lumbini The Birthplace of Lord Buddha World Heritage property 1 FEBRUARY 2014 Government of Nepal Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY Ramshah Path, Kathmandu, Nepal Telephone: +977 1 4250683 Facsimile: +977 1 4262856 E‐mail: [email protected] (Report prepared in cooperation with Lumbini Development Trust) Lumbini The Birthplace of Lord Buddh World Heritage property SoC REPORT ‐ 1 February 2013 Table of Contents Introduction 2 Decision: 36 COM 7B.65 3 Section A 4 Response to the points made by the World Heritage Committee 4 Section B 9 UNESCO / JFIT / DOA / LDT Project Season 2011-2012 (second year) 9 UNESCO / JFIT / DOA / LDT Project Season 2012-2013 (third year) 14 Master Plan for Lumbini World Peace City 18 ANNEX 18 1. Draft Integrated Management Framework document 2. Environmental Impact Assessment UNESCO and IUCN Conclusion and Recommendations 3. Master Plan for Lumbini World Peace City Introduction and Map Page 1 Lumbini The Birthplace of Lord Buddh World Heritage property SoC REPORT ‐ 1 February 2013 Introduction Lumbini, the site of Archaeological, historical, cultural and religious importance in Rupandehi district, Lumbini zone, Nepal was enlisted on World Heritage List in 1997, as Lumbini The Birthplace of Lord Buddha World Heritage Property under the criterion (iii) and (vi) as the birth place of the Lord Buddha, testified by the inscription on the Asoka Pillar and as the archaeological remains of the Buddhist Vihara (monasteries) and stupas (memorial shrines) from 3rd century B.C.
    [Show full text]
  • The Miraculous Life of Gotama Buddha a Study in the Psychology of Mythology of the Historical Bodhisattva
    The Miraculous Life of Gotama Buddha A study in the psychology of mythology of the historical Bodhisattva being SD 52.1 of the Sutta Discovery series by Piya Tan 2018 THE MINDING CENTRE Singapore First published in 2018 THE MINDING CENTRE Singapore ©2018 TAN Beng Sin All rights reserved Piya Tan (TAN Beng Sin), 1949- The Miraculous Life of Gotama Buddha: A study in the psychology of mythology of the historical Bodhisattva Publisher: the author ISBN 978-981-11-7432-2 (E-book) National Library Board, Singapore Cataloguing in Publication Data Name(s): Tan, Piya, 1949- Other title(s): Tipiṭaka. Suttapiṭaka. English. Selections | Miraculous life of Gotama Buddha : a study in the psychology of mythology of the historical Bodhisattva : being SD 52.1 of the Sutta discovery series Title: Sutta discovery. 52.1, The miraculous life of Gotama Buddha : a study in the psychology of mythology of the historical Bodhisattva / by Piya Tan. Description: Singapore : The Minding Centre, 2018. | Includes bibliographical references. Identifier(s): OCN 1028012130 | ISBN 978-981-11-7432-2 (paperback) Subject(s): LCSH: Tipiṭaka. Suttapiṭaka--Criticism, interpretation, etc. | Theravāda Buddhism--Doctrines. | Gautama Buddha. | Wisdom--Religious aspects-- Buddhism. Classification: DDC 294.3823--dc23 THE MINDING CENTRE, based in Singapore, is part of Piya Tan’s Dharma ministry. It was founded in 2006 to provide non-religious Dharma-based services to those in need of counsel and solace. It also serves as a haven and hub for those seeking Dharma by way of critical thinking, creative feeling, meditation, sutta translation and study, spiritual experience, and sharing that light and joy.
    [Show full text]
  • Archaeology of Buddhist Sites in Nepalese Tarai
    Archaeology of Buddhist Sites in Nepalese Tarai Kosh Prasad Acharya Chief Archaeological Officer Department of Archeology NEPAL It has been a century since the discovery of three Chunar sand stone pillars erected by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in Lumbin, Kapilavastu area in Nepalese Tarai. Most important in the series is the pillar at Lumbini with the inscription testifying the authenticity of Lumbini where Lord Buddha was born. This pillar is standing in situ with the inscription engraved by Ashoka in Brahmi script and Pali language which has been translated as "king Piyadasi (Ashoka), the beloved of gods, in the twentieth year of the coronation, himself made a royal visit. Buddha Shakyamuni having been born here a stone railing was built and a stone pillar ercc1cd. The Bhagavan were born here, Lumbini village was tax freed and entitled to the eighth part only." Equally important was the discovery of another pillar at Nigalihawa. This pillar is broken into pieces and only two pieces are lying near a tank called Nigalisagar. In this pillar is the inscription engraved by Emperor Ashoka. This also in Brahmi Script and Pali language has been translated as “King Piyadasi (Ashoka) on the fourteenth year of his reign enlarged for the second time the stupa of the Buddha Kanakamuni and in the twentieth year of his reign having come in person did reverence and set up a stone pillar.” These two pillars clearly recognized two sites associated with the two mortal Buddhas of Bhadrakalpa. One was the birth place of the historical Buddha – the Shakyamuni and another was the nirvana stupa of Kanakamuni Buddha.
    [Show full text]
  • The Buddhist Tradition
    The Buddhist Tradition Religious Beliefs and Healthcare Decisions by Paul David Numrich uddhism originated as a movement of spiritual Brenunciants who followed Siddhartha Gautama, a prince of the Shakya people in northern India around 500 B.C.E. (before the common era, often designated B.C.). Legend recounts that after Siddhartha confront- ed the realities of old age, illness, and death, he Contents renounced his privileged social position to seek spiri- Beliefs Relating to Healthcare 2 tual salvation. Through years spent studying spiritual Overview of 3 practices and practicing disciplined meditation he dis- Religious Morality and Ethics covered a kind of transcendent clarity of perspective, The Individual and 4 which is referred to as enlightenment or nirvana. The the Patient-Caregiver Relationship prince Siddhartha thereafter became known as the Family, Sexuality, and Procreation 5 Buddha (Enlightened One) and Shakyamuni (Sage of the Shakyas). Genetics 6 Buddhism spread throughout Asia and divided into Organ and Tissue Transplantation 7 three major branches, each with distinctive beliefs, Mental Health 8 practices, and cultural nuances: Theravada Buddhism Medical Experimentation 9 in southern and Southeast Asia (the modern coun- and Research tries of Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Death and Dying 9 Cambodia, and Vietnam), Mahayana Buddhism in Special Concerns 11 eastern Asia (China, Korea, and Japan), and Vajrayana Buddhism in central Asia (mainly Tibet). Each major branch includes various sub-branches and groups; for instance,
    [Show full text]
  • The Pratītyasamutpādagātha and Its Role in the Medieval Cult of the Relics
    THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BUDDHIST STUDIES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Roger Jackson Dept. oj Religion Carleton College Northfield, MN 55057 USA EDITORS Peter N. Gregory Ernst Steinkellner University of Illinois University of Vienna Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA Wien, Austria Alexander W. Macdonald Jikido Takasaki Universite de Paris X University of Tokyo Nanterre, France Tokyo, Japan Steven Collins Robert Thurman Concordia University Columbia University Montreal, Canada New York, New York, USA Volume 14 1991 Number 1 CONTENTS I. ARTICLES 1. The Pratityasamutpadagathd and Its Role in the Medieval Cult of the Relics, by Daniel Boucher 1 2. Notes on the Devotional Uses and Symbolic Functions of Sutra Texts as Depicted in Early Chinese Buddhist Miracle Tales and Hagiographies, by Robert F. Campany 28 3. A Source Analysis of the Ruijing lu ("Records of Miraculous Scriptures"), by Koichi Shinohara 73 4. Pudgalavada in Tibet? Assertions of Substantially Existent Selves in the Writings of Tsong-kha-pa and His Followers, by Joe Bransford Wilson 155 II. BOOK REVIEWS 1. The Dawn of Chinese Pure Land Buddhist Doctrine: Ching-ying Hui-yiian's Commentary on the Visualization Sutra, by Kenneth K. Tanaka (Allan A. Andrews) 181 2. Three Recent Collections: The Buddhist Heritage, ed. Tadeusz Skorupski; Chinese Buddhist Apocrypha, ed. Robert E. Buswell, Jr.; and Reflections on Tibetan Culture, ed. Lawrence Epstein and Richard Sherburne (Roger Jackson) 191 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS 195 The Pratityasamutpddagathd and Its Role in the Medieval Cult of the Relics by Daniel Boucher I. Introduction Over the past one hundred and fifty years, thousands of clay seals, miniature stupas, and images inscribed with the famous "Buddhist creed" (the ye dharmd hetuprabhava..
    [Show full text]
  • Lumbini Journal 13.Pmd
    LumbiniLumbiniLumbini J OURNAL O F T HE L UMBINI N EPALESE B UDDHA D HARMA S OCIETY (UK) Volume 16 B. E. 2557 May 2013 The vajra is used symbolically in Buddhism often to represent firmness of spiritual power. Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society (UK) uddha was born more than 2600 years ago at Lumbini in Nepal. His teachings of existence of suffering and Lumbini the way out of the suffering are applicable today as they were B Journal of The Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society (UK) applicable then. The middle way he preached is more appropriate now than ever before. Lumbini is the journal of LNBDS (UK) and published annually For centuries Buddhism remained the religion of the East. Recently, depending upon funds and written material; and distributed free more and more Westerners are learning about it and practising Dharma of charge as Dharma Dana. It is our hope that the journal will serve for the spiritual and physical well-being and happiness. As a result of as a medium for: this interest many monasteries and Buddhist organisations have been established in the West, including in the UK. Most have Asian 1.Communication between the society, the members and other connections but others are unique to the West e.g. Friends of Western interested groups. Buddhist Order. 2.Publication of news and activities about Buddhism in the United Nepalese, residing in the UK, wishing to practice the Dharma for their Kingdom, Nepal and other countries. spiritual development, turned to them as there were no such Nepalese organisations. Therefore, a group of Nepalese met in February 1997 3.Explaining various aspects of Dharma in simple and easily and founded Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society (UK) to fill understood language for all age groups.
    [Show full text]
  • Concept of Redemption in the World Religions: a Comparative Analysis of the Account of Redemption in Semitic Religions and Indian Religions
    IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 21, Issue 3, Ver. I (Mar. 2016) PP 53-64 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. www.iosrjournals.org Concept of Redemption in the World Religions: A Comparative Analysis of the Account of Redemption in Semitic Religions and Indian Religions Binoj Mathew, Research Scholar, Bharatiyar University, Coimbatore. I. Introduction The ultimate aim of any religion is salvation / redemption of those who believe in it. They embark various paths to experience redemption according to their beliefs and the life of the founders and prominent figures of these religions. Redemption is a common word in the world religions including the Semitic Religions and the Indian Religions. The Semitic Religions are Judaism, Christianity and Islam and the Indian Religions includes Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. Semitic Religions are monotheistic for they believe in one God. They hold fast to the belief of the creation of the world out of nothing and God alone is eternal and all the other things like soul, matter, and scripture are created. Whereas the Indian Religions like Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism have their origin from Hinduism. According to Hinduism, God, Soul, Matter and Scripture are eternal. They believe not in one God but many. In Semitic Religion, salvation is the saving of the soul from sin and its consequences. It may also be called „deliverance‟ or „redemption‟ from sin and its effects. Salvation is considered to be caused either by the free will and grace of a deity or by personal efforts through prayer, asceticism, or some combination of the two.
    [Show full text]